How Concepcion’s breakout season convinced blue-chip prospects to return home

NC State football superstar sophomore wide receiver Kevin “KC” Concepcion balled out last season in his home state. Concepcion recorded 10 touchdowns and 839 yards to secure his place as ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year. Concepcion’s record-breaking season captured the attention of North Carolina natives who decided to play their first year out of the state.

Redshirt freshmen receiver Noah Rogers and running back Hollywood Smothers will suit up for the Pack offense this year. Rogers and Smothers both played high school football in North Carolina but chose schools far from home out of high school.

Rogers, who transferred from Ohio State, was buried deep in a talented receiver room and didn’t see the field as much as he wanted. Smothers was in the same boat. Coming from Oklahoma, Smothers only totaled 20 rushing yards in his sole season with the Sooners, leading him to redshirt and think of other opportunities.

When Rogers and Smothers saw what opportunities Concepcion was getting with the Wolfpack, it convinced them to come back home.

Rogers opened up about the competitiveness among the team, and how Concepcion brings that competitive spirit to the locker room.

“Especially having great receivers like KC, [junior Wesley Grimes] and [redshirt junior Dacari Collins] beside me,” Rogers said after practice during fall camp. “We have competition every day. We actually got one right now — whoever drops the most balls has got to get dumped in the cold tub.”

Rogers also gave props to DJ Horne, the starting point guard for the 2023-2024 men's basketball team. He said he admired Horne for coming home to Raleigh and bringing the city an ACC championship.

“To see what he did for his team is very special cause you know he said ‘Why not us?’” Rogers said. “I say why not football? Why can’t we do the same thing and be successful?”

When Smothers was at Oklahoma he saw what Concepcion, his former high school teammate, was doing in his home state, and he wanted to follow Concepcion’s lead.

“When I was at Oklahoma I was seeing my dude make plays,” Smothers said. “But now I get to go celebrate with him now, so it’s definitely a great feeling being out there with him. KC set the standard of staying home and showing what he can make happen.”

While Rogers and Smothers didn’t initially commit to NC State out of high school, Doeren made sure to keep a good relationship with them in case they ever wanted to come back home.

“At other schools I've worked at and won championships and helped them build programs,” Doeren said. “When I looked at those programs, they were all heavily tilted to in-state, and so I don't know exactly why, but I think my opinion is because they live where they work, and they have to go home to their hometowns.”

Now that Rogers is back in his home state, he feels the support of his family and community.

“I came back to a really smooth transition, the biggest thing for me was just focusing on my responsibilities,” Rogers said. “It makes it real smooth, having a lot of people around you who want to help you and make you better.”